What Kind of Ice Cream is Yasso?

December 21, 2025 •

3 min read

According to the brand's founders, Yasso was created as a better-for-you alternative to the limited options available in the freezer aisle. Since hitting stores in 2011, Yasso has become widely known as a frozen Greek yogurt brand, not a traditional ice cream. While it offers a creamy, satisfying texture reminiscent of ice cream, its unique formulation leverages the benefits of Greek yogurt to deliver a treat that is both delicious and mindful of nutrition.

Quick Summary

Yasso is not ice cream, but a frozen Greek yogurt-based product that offers a lower-calorie, high-protein dessert option. This snack uses a Greek yogurt foundation to create a creamy texture while providing nutritional benefits.

Key Points

Frozen Greek Yogurt: Yasso's primary product is not ice cream, but frozen Greek yogurt, offering a different nutritional profile.
High in Protein: Yasso products typically contain more protein than traditional ice cream due to their Greek yogurt base.
Lower in Calories and Fat: Compared to many conventional ice cream products, Yasso offers a lower-calorie and lower-fat dessert option.
No Artificial Sweeteners: The brand uses natural ingredients for flavoring and sweetness, avoiding artificial sweeteners or sugar alcohols.
Variety of Products: Beyond its famous frozen bars, Yasso's product line includes sandwiches, poppables, and mochi.
Probiotic Benefits: Yasso is made with live and active Greek yogurt cultures, which are beneficial for digestive health.
Healthier Alternative: Many reviewers appreciate Yasso as a satisfying, guilt-free alternative to heavier frozen desserts.

Yasso: Frozen Greek Yogurt, Not Ice Cream

For many consumers, the creamy, flavorful experience of a Yasso treat might feel exactly like ice cream, but the distinction lies in its primary ingredient: Greek yogurt. Traditional ice cream is a frozen dessert made primarily from dairy products like milk and cream, along with sweeteners and flavorings. Yasso, on the other hand, is built on a base of creamy Greek yogurt, which provides a significantly different nutritional profile.

The use of Greek yogurt as the foundation for Yasso products is the key differentiator. This gives the brand's bars, sandwiches, and mochi a unique tangy yet sweet flavor and a dense, satisfying texture. Unlike many competitors, Yasso also avoids using artificial sweeteners and sugar alcohols, relying on natural ingredients to create its signature taste profile.

The Nutritional Benefits of Frozen Greek Yogurt

Switching from traditional ice cream to Yasso can offer several health-conscious advantages. The main benefits are typically related to calorie, protein, and fat content.

Lower Calories and Fat: Many Yasso bars contain 100 to 150 calories, compared to traditional ice cream bars that can easily exceed 250 calories. Yasso's formulation is also significantly lower in fat.
Higher Protein Content: Thanks to its Greek yogurt base, Yasso products are higher in protein than most ice creams. This helps to increase feelings of fullness and satisfaction, making it a more satiating treat.
Live and Active Cultures: Yasso products are made with live and active cultures from Greek yogurt, which offer digestive health benefits.
No Artificial Sweeteners: The brand prioritizes using natural flavors and ingredients, which appeals to consumers looking to avoid artificial additives.

What are Yasso Products Made Of?

The ingredients in Yasso products vary slightly by flavor and product type, but they share a core foundation.

Core Ingredients: Nonfat milk, Greek yogurt (made from nonfat milk and cultures), sugar, milk protein concentrate, and natural flavors.
Stabilizers: Ingredients like maltodextrin, guar gum, and locust bean gum are used to achieve the desired creamy texture.
Flavor-Specific Inclusions: Depending on the flavor, products may contain chocolate chips, cookie pieces, or crisped quinoa for added texture and taste.

Exploring the Yasso Product Line

While Yasso first made a name for itself with its frozen Greek yogurt bars, the brand has since expanded its offerings to include a variety of other frozen treats, all rooted in the same creamy, Greek yogurt philosophy.

Frozen Greek Yogurt Bars: The flagship product, available in classic flavors like Mint Chocolate Chip, Chocolate Fudge, and Sea Salt Caramel.
Chocolate Crunch Bars: A richer, dipped version of the classic bar, coated in a chocolatey shell with crisped quinoa for crunch.
Frozen Greek Yogurt Sandwiches: A frozen treat with Greek yogurt nestled between two soft wafers.
Poppables: Bite-sized, chocolate-covered spheres of frozen Greek yogurt, perfect for a quick snack.
Mochi: Chewy, sweet rice dough filled with Yasso's frozen Greek yogurt.

Yasso vs. Traditional Ice Cream


Feature	Yasso (Frozen Greek Yogurt)	Traditional Ice Cream
Main Ingredient	Greek Yogurt	Cream and Milk
Calorie Count (per bar)	Typically 80-150 calories	Often 250+ calories
Protein Content	Higher (often 5+g)	Lower (varies widely)
Fat Content	Significantly lower	Higher
Texture	Creamy, dense, with a slight tang	Smooth, rich, and dense
Sweeteners	Natural sugars, no sugar alcohols	Varies, can include sugar alcohols
Health Benefits	Probiotics from live cultures	Limited, primarily a treat
Primary Goal	Balanced indulgence	Decadent dessert

Conclusion

While Yasso successfully mimics the delicious, satisfying experience of ice cream, it is fundamentally a different product based on frozen Greek yogurt. The brand has carved out a niche by offering a dessert that is lower in calories and fat and higher in protein than its traditional ice cream counterparts. This makes it a popular choice for health-conscious consumers who don't want to sacrifice flavor for nutritional goals. With a diverse product line that includes bars, sandwiches, and other treats, Yasso offers a guilt-free indulgence that continues to gain popularity.

To learn more about the frozen dessert market and its alternatives, you can explore detailed reports from market research firms.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, Yasso is widely considered a healthier alternative to traditional ice cream. It is lower in calories and fat and higher in protein, thanks to its Greek yogurt base.

Yes, because Yasso products are made with Greek yogurt, they contain live and active cultures that are beneficial for gut and digestive health.

The primary ingredient in Yasso is Greek yogurt, which gives it a creamy texture and provides a higher protein content than traditional ice cream.

No, Yasso prides itself on using natural flavors and ingredients, avoiding artificial sweeteners and sugar alcohols commonly found in other 'healthy' frozen treats.

Yasso offers a variety of products, including its original frozen Greek yogurt bars, chocolate crunch bars, frozen sandwiches, poppables, and mochi.

Yes, many Yasso products are gluten-free, making them a suitable option for those with gluten sensitivities.

Yasso is frozen Greek yogurt, not ice cream. While it offers a similar creamy texture, its base is Greek yogurt, which provides a different nutritional profile.